given to children. True, friend, but the duty required of
children implies a corresponding duty on the part of parents. Who shall
teach children to reverence that father and mother in whose character
there is nothing to call forth such a sentiment? "Though children are
not absolved from the obligation of this commandment by the misconduct
of their parents, yet in the nature of things, it is impossible that
they should yield the same hearty respect and veneration to the unworthy
as to the worthy, nor does God require a child to pay an irrational
honor to his parents. If his parents are atheists, he cannot honor them
as Christians. If they are prayerless and profane, he cannot honor them
as religious. If they are worldly, avaricious, over-reaching,
unscrupulous as to veracity and honest dealing, he cannot honor them as
exemplary, upright, conscientious and spiritually-minded."

If parents only say, like Eli, in feeble accents, "Nay, my sons; for it
is no good report that I hear. Why do ye such things?" they will not
only have disobedient and irreverent children, but often, if not always,
they will be made to understand that their sin is grievous in the sight
of God, and he will say of them also, "I will judge his house forever
for the iniquity which he knoweth, because his sons made themselves vile
and _he restrained them not_." "And therefore have I sworn unto the
house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with
sacrifice nor offering forever."

Unto parents God has committed the child, in utter helplessness, and
weakness, and ignorance, an unformed being. The power and the knowledge
are theirs, and on their side is He, the Almighty and infinitely wise,
with his spirit and his laws, and his promises. If they are
faithful,--if from the first they realize their responsibility, and the
advantages of their position, can the result be doubtful? But they will
not be faithful; imperfection is stamped on all earthly character, and
they will fail in this as in all other duties. What then? Blessed be
God, the Gospel has a provision for erring parents. If Sinai thunders,
Calvary whispers peace. For men, as sinners, the righteousness of Christ
prevails, and for sinners, as parents, not less shall it be found
sufficient. Line and plummet can soon measure the extent of human
perfection, but they cannot fathom the merit of that righteousness, and
when laid side by side with the most holy law, there is no deficie